The Houston Rockets are riding high after a huge victory over LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers. James Harden's stellar performance is the driving force behind Houston's rise to the top of the Western Conference. But while their record looks great, that doesn't mean that they are that much closer to the title.
James Harden is having an MVP-caliber season which is a big boost for the Houston Rockets' offense. The Rockets currently have the second best offensive team in the league trailing only the Golden State Warriors by less than a point for points scored per game. Mike D' Antoni's system is designed for to produce a lot of points through jump shots and fast break to which James Harden has thrived.
As compared to the Golden State Warriors, the Houston Rockets has a deeper roster where a majority of players have the ability to score. Couple that with James Harden's newfound playmaking abilities and Mike D' Antoni's system, it's no wonder the Rockets are the 2nd best offensive team behind the Warriors. Of all the teams in the NBA, only the Rockets can compete with the offensive weapons of Warriors. And with the addition of Lou Williams and the injury of Kevin Durant, it won't be long before the Rockets surpass the Warriors as the best offensive team in the NBA.
Then again basketball is about playing on two sides of the court - defense and offense. The Rockets may be one of the best offensive teams in the NBA but they are also among the worst defensive teams as they allow opponents to score 108 points per game. The Rockets rely heavily on outscoring their opponents but slack off on defense. When it comes to the playoffs, the Rocket's vaunted offense may not be as effective since games tend to focus more on defense which slows down the game.
The Golden State Warriors is the only exception to this rule where an offense dependent team won the title. But the Warriors are a way better defensive team than the Houston Rockets. For the Rockets to have a chance to win the title, James Harden and the rest will have to focus more on the defense and let their offense slack off a bit.
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